What was meant to be a joyful Friendsgiving outing for a group of nine Black women in Chesapeake, Virginia, quickly turned into a shocking ordeal that’s now the subject of a $5 million lawsuit.
The women say they were unfairly ejected from the Cork & Bull Chophouse after a fight broke out at the restaurant—one in which they claim they had no involvement.
Shakoya Holt, one of the women, recalled the evening as a night that “turned into hurt, embarrassment, and humiliation,” as all eyes in the restaurant were suddenly on them.
According to Holt, the group had just ordered drinks when two women at a nearby table started a physical altercation.
Despite having no connection to the fight, Holt and her friends were asked to leave by the restaurant staff.
The Fight That Sparked the Incident
Video footage from the restaurant shows a woman in black repeatedly hitting a woman in hot pink while grabbing her hair.
The brawl escalated, with tables being knocked over before staff intervened.
Although the two women directly involved were escorted out, Holt said the restaurant quickly turned its attention to her group.
“I asked why, and he responded, saying ‘because you all like to fight,’” she told WAVY.
“It was all very public and humiliating.”
Allegations of Racial Discrimination
The group has now filed a civil rights lawsuit, claiming “wrongful removal, racial stereotyping, denial of service, and verbal assault.”
They argue that they were singled out even though their attire—white tops and jeans—made them easily distinguishable from the others in the restaurant.
Police reportedly confirmed that Holt and her friends had no involvement in the fight and allowed them to gather their belongings, yet the women still faced verbal harassment from employees.
At least one woman required medical treatment for stress, and others sought counseling afterward.
The plaintiffs have retained attorney Joyvan Malbon-Griffin, who said the women were treated more harshly than those who actually fought.
“They’ve said, ‘Enough is enough, and we are not going to take it,’” Malbon-Griffin said.
Support From Civil Rights Groups
The NAACP Virginia State Conference and the NAACP Chesapeake Branch have expressed solidarity with the women.
Reverend Cozy Bailey, president of the Virginia State Conference, said the incident is a reminder that racism is still embedded in everyday life.
He emphasized that establishments must be held accountable when they perpetuate racial stereotypes and called on the community to support the plaintiffs.
Community Response and Protests
Since the women first shared their experience in November 2025, protests have been held outside the restaurant.
Restaurant owner Robert “Brian” Mullins and his wife Teresa have claimed the incident has damaged both the restaurant’s reputation and revenue.
In an open letter, Mullins said the staff faced threats and coordinated protests, but he insists that an internal review confirmed the staff’s actions were justified.
The Legal Showdown Ahead
Mullins said the women declined a meeting at the restaurant to discuss the incident, citing the establishment as a traumatizing environment.
His attorney plans to defend the staff’s actions in court, arguing that no racism was involved and that the restaurant expects a full vindication.
Mullins also emphasized his family’s decades-long history of operating businesses without discrimination.
“For our family to be called racist, you do not know us,” he wrote, reaffirming his position as the legal case moves forward.
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